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  4. Beautiful on the Outside: Top Tips for Exterior Maintenance

Interiors & Decorating

Inspiration and advice on interior design, decorating styles, colour schemes and home aesthetics.

Interiors & Decorating

Beautiful on the Outside: Top Tips for Exterior Maintenance

Looking after the exterior is important for protecting your home, preventing serious damage, and enhancing that all-important kerb appeal. We share some tips.

When it comes to home maintenance, it can be tempting to start on the inside and forget about the outside, especially in the cold, wet, winter months. However, your exterior is just as important for protecting your home, preventing serious damage, and enhancing that all-important kerb appeal.

Top tips to prevent serious issues:

  1. Inspect and clean your gutters. Blocked gutters can cause rain water to overflow, which can damage walls, leading to damp issues and even damaging the foundations of your home. Make sure that you check and clean your gutters regularly, especially in autumn or after storms. If you are not confident up a ladder, or you notice damage to your guttering, get a gutter specialist in to help you.
  2. Stay vigilant for mould and damp. British winters provide perfect conditions for damp: colder temperatures outside combined with central heating and plenty of rain mean there is lots of warm, damp air. Keep an eye out for damp spots, excessive condensation, or mould, and if you do notice anything, make sure that you look for the cause, rather than just treating the problem.
  3. Roof maintenance is essential as, if left unchecked, a relatively simple problem like a cracked or missing tile can quickly become a serious and expensive issue. Inspect your roof and if you do notice any damage, contact a roof specialist for a quote as soon as possible.
  4. Repaint and add exterior protection – a lick of paint will not only make your home look better, but will help to protect it from the elements, too. Make sure you use the right paint for the surface to optimise weather protection.
  5. Tidy paths and driveways – weeds and cracks can become trip hazards as well as leading to further damage; contact a specialist to get damage repaired as soon as you can.
  6. External repairs. Keep an eye on windows and doors for leaks and cracks – this will help to improve insulation as well as preventing leaks. Keep an eye on brick work and rendering and ask a local builder to repair obvious cracks and damage before it gets too serious.

If you take care of your home, it will take care of you. Maintenance may seem like a never-ending problem, but if you bury your head in the sand, things are only going to get worse. If your to-do list of home maintenance jobs is getting overwhelmingly long, check out Trust A Trader’s directory of rated handymen near you and get someone in to fix all of those niggly jobs in one go. For more tips and advice, or to find a trader you can rely on, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Looking for more interiors & decorating advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common interiors & decorating questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

  • What is the difference between a painter and a decorator?

    A painter focuses on applying paint - walls, ceilings, woodwork. A decorator does all of that but also handles wallpaper, specialist finishes, surface prep, and can advise on colours and materials. Many professionals do both and call themselves painters and decorators. For a straightforward repaint, a painter is fine. If you want wallpaper, something specialist, or someone to help you make decisions about the finish, go with a decorator.

  • How many coats of paint does a professional decorator apply?

    For most walls, it's a primer or mist coat, then two topcoats. New plaster, bare surfaces, or a big colour change might need more preparation or extra coats. Cutting corners on coats or using cheap paint are the most common ways to get a finish that looks fine at first and starts showing its age within a year. A trusted decorator always prepares the surface properly and won't rush between coats.

  • How do I prepare my home before a decorator arrives?

    Move furniture away from the walls and take down pictures, mirrors, and anything fixed to the walls. If you can strip old wallpaper yourself beforehand, it'll save time on site. Make sure every part of the room is accessible and well-lit. Talk through surface prep with the decorator in advance - a good one will tell you exactly what they need before they can start.

  • How do I know if my walls need replastering before decorating?

    If there are significant cracks, areas that sound hollow when you tap them, persistent damp, or large patches that are flaking or badly uneven - replastering first will give a much better result. Decorating over problem plaster looks fine initially but every imperfection tends to show through, especially with modern matt paints. A decorator can assess whether full replastering or careful preparation and skim coating will get you where you want to be.

  • What are the most popular interior design styles right now?

    There's been a pretty clear shift away from the all-grey, everything-neutral look of the 2010s. Warmer tones are dominating - clay, terracotta, stone, off-white - with natural materials like linen, rattan, and solid timber replacing high-gloss finishes. Biophilic design (plants, natural light, organic shapes) has gone from trend to standard practice. There's also a real appetite for spaces that feel personal and collected rather than showroom-ready - bold wallpaper, layered textiles, and period features being celebrated rather than painted over.

  • How long does a full home decorating project typically take?

    A single room in good condition typically takes a professional two to three days. A full house - particularly an older property that needs a little more care beforehand - can take several weeks. The part that often catches people off guard is the preparation: stripping wallpaper, filling, sanding, and priming all take a good amount of time, and doing them properly really does make all the difference to the finished result.

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